Time to Hammer out a good result
WHAT have Newcastle United and West Ham got in common?
Both last won against the same team, Manchester United – a big result followed by nowt.
The Hammers achieved their feat on September 22 and haven’t won a game since, despite still being 10th in the table. Indeed, three days after overcoming Man U, they lost 4-0 to Oxford in a cup tie.
So in many ways it’s a match between two hopelessly out-of-form sides in the east end of London. That’s how bad it has got.
For me, Steve Bruce is reactive rather than proactive and it reflects in his team.
United were one up against Wolves last time out when suddenly in the second half they went to pieces. Passes went astray, front men weren’t making runs, and panic began to set in.
However, players on the field didn’t get a grip on things and Bruce on the bench did nothing. The outcome was that
Wolves equalised, Sean Longstaff got sent off in frustration, and United’s head coach shook himself into action. I feel Bruce ought to have seen what was coming and took decisive early action. However, a pattern has been set. United have the ball only 33% of the time under Bruce and they don’t score goals when they do get in the opposing penalty area. So we are faced with the same old problems as we contemplate a trip to West Ham: let one in at the back and Newcastle don’t win and who is going to score for us anyway? Surely, surely Bruce must gamble and go with Dwight Gayle because he is the best finisher available to him.
Yes, he isn’t big, he’s best alongside a robust No 9, and he hasn’t a lot of minutes on the field in his locker. But his goals ratio will always be better than Joelinton, Almiron, Maximin, Muto, and Carroll.
I would like to see Andy in tandem with Gayle but I’m not sure the big man is fit enough to play the sort of physical game he does play for 60 minutes never mind 90.
Of course, United now have a problem in midfield as well as up front with the elder of the Longstaff brothers suspended for three matches.
He got his marching orders against Wolves through sheer frustration. He began overstretching to get control of the game back and consequently over stretched on a tackle.
There was nothing malicious in his challenge but it was high and I have no complaint with the referee. He had to react as he did in the modern circumstances.
United have enough bodies to cover his absence in midfield just as they have enough bodies to select from up front. The problem is that they simply aren’t good enough.
I would love United to begin with a real flourish down in London, somehow grab a two-goal lead for the first time this season, and see how they go from there with the pressure off at the back. Oh but I’ve just remembered United did that at Man U last season and went on to lose 3-2!